English Meaning & Definitions
The protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee.
- “The political activist was granted asylum after fleeing his home country.”
- “Thousands of migrants are currently seeking asylum in neighboring states.”
An institution offering shelter and support to people who are mentally ill or otherwise unable to care for themselves (dated usage).
- “The old asylum on the hill was closed down in the late twentieth century.”
- “She spent several years in a private asylum recovering from a nervous breakdown.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “asylum”.
Derived from the Latin 'asylum', which comes from the Greek 'asylon', meaning 'inviolable place' or 'refuge'. It is formed from the prefix 'a-' (without) and 'syle' (right of seizure), literally meaning a place where one cannot be seized or taken by force.
Think of 'a-syl-um' as 'a-seal-um'—a place that seals you off from danger, keeping you safe inside.
Frequently Asked Questions About “asylum”
1. What is the meaning of “asylum” in English?
In English, asylum (noun) is defined as: “The protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee.”.
2. How do you use “asylum” in a sentence?
“The political activist was granted asylum after fleeing his home country.”
3. What are English synonyms of “asylum”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “asylum”?
Derived from the Latin 'asylum', which comes from the Greek 'asylon', meaning 'inviolable place' or 'refuge'. It is formed from the prefix 'a-' (without) and 'syle' (right of seizure), literally meaning a place where one cannot be seized or taken by force.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.